Did you know Charlotte-metro’s air is on the nasty-air list? It is.

The Q.C. is ranked No. 8 on the American Lung Association’s list of worst air, in terms of ozone. That’s right. We’re up there with Los Angeles and Houston, and, according to their report, our air quality is getting worse — not better.

Plans to clean up the Charlotte region’s air have stalled even as federal regulators are pushing state and local officials to deal with pollution.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has started the clock on penalties that could cripple the region’s road funding and block industrial development unless clean-air plans are submitted and approved by 2011.

State environmental regulators in both Carolinas and a regional transportation group are expected to detail those plans.

But the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been held up in negotiations with the EPA over terms for an extension — one year or two — dictating when the region has to meet current ozone standards. Those talks have tied up the release of a major section of North Carolina’s state implementation plan, says Laura Boothe, the state’s division of air quality attainment planning branch supervisor.

The EPA must approve both states’ plans, known in government circles as an SIP, by May 8, 2011, or transportation dollars could be cut off for the region — an area that includes Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Rowan and York counties, as well as southern Iredell County.

Read the rest of this Charlotte Business Journal article here.

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Who knew a fly could bug big business?

Mayflies may seal the fate of mountaintop mining in the Appalachian hills of the eastern U.S.

Companies such as Massey Energy Co. that mine coal there by stripping mountain peaks and dumping debris in streams are being asked by the Environmental Protection Agency for the first time to safeguard the mayfly, one of the oldest winged insects and a bait favored by fly-fisherman.

Applicants for new mines will have to show they wouldn’t cause pollution deadly to the aquatic bug. That puts at risk about $3 billion a year in coal that operators led by Massey and International Coal Group Inc. extract in Appalachia, said Kevin Book, an analyst at ClearView Energy Partners LLC. Without fresh permits to dump debris, mines may shut by 2012 in states such as West Virginia, he said.

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Mountaintop mining produces millions of tons of crushed shale and sandstone dumped in valleys and streams. Rainwater flowing though the debris carries dissolved metals into waters below, a lethal stew for mayflies, the EPA says.

In mountaintop mining, peaks are blown away by dynamite to expose coal. Companies may be forced to make greater use of tunnels and shafts, which require more labor and can add $3 to $10 to the cost of extracting a ton of coal, Book said.

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More than 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) of creeks and streams have been buried by mining debris in Appalachia from surface-mining techniques, including mountaintop removal, the EPA said in 2005.

Mining’s threat to mayflies, which hatch in streams and grow to a quarter-inch to more than an inch (2.5 centimeters) long, has been documented since the late 1990s. This year, the EPA under President Barack Obama for the first time held up new permits on the grounds of inadequate safeguards for the insect.

Read the entire article at Bloomberg.com.

Further reading: Salt-loving algae wipe out fish in Appalachian stream

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Further reading:

• The Associated Press: EPA: Toxic chemicals in freshwater fish widespread
• The Charlotte Business Journal: EPA: Mercury in local fish
• The Sun Journal: Contamination in N.C. waters ‘a crisis,’ lawyer and water advocate says

Some say the benefits of eating fish outweigh the risks, or at least that’s what they were saying in 2007 when this was filmed:

Real-life stories about how mercury affects humans:

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Tired of flood warnings every time it rains? Do something about it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to hear from the public about how stormwater flooding affects you. Click here for more information.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings across the region Wednesday as rain swelled creeks in counties surrounding Charlotte. Rain was most intense north and west of Charlotte, across the foothills and Western Piedmont. The heaviest rain, up to a quarter inch per hour, fell along a line including Rutherfordton, Hickory and Taylorsville.

A flood warning means that flooding is imminent or has been reported. Most flood fatalities happen when motorists drive onto flooded streets or streams and when children play in or near storm drains or streams, forecasters said.

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In Cabarrus County, Pharr Mill Road Park remained closed Wednesday due to Rocky River flooding. The river, which runs through the park, rose from its banks and flooded parts of the park outside Harrisburg.

At Frank Liske Park in Concord, trails and some playgrounds were also closed due to flooding.

Roads in northern Union County were covered by puddles after hours of heavy rain Tuesday night. In at least one area, floodwaters from a low-lying field had spilled into one lane of a busy commuter road.

Flooding on rural roads, including Lawyers Road and N.C. 218, posed a threat to commuters. On Secrest Short Cut Road near the Indian Trail-Monroe border, floodwaters had spilled into the eastbound lane from a nearby field. That lane was completely submerged for about a 20-foot stretch.

Read more from The Charlotte Observer.

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After eight years of the Bush administration’s fear-mongering, it sometimes seems like the Republican party’s main goal is to scare the crap out of Americans. (Anyone remember the fake-ola “death panels”? How about the Muslim Mafia?)

So, why in the world did the House of Representatives vote along party lines last week on the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 — “which calls for increased safety standards and regulations for facilities using potentially dangerous chemicals”? You’d think Republicans would be in favor of strengthening a bill with a title like that, but nooooo …

Wonder if this has anything to do with former Vice President Dick Cheney’s hope that terrorists will attack our country while Obama’s in the Oval Office?

From U.S. PIRG:

WASHINGTON, June 17 – In testimony filed Tuesday on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group urged members of Congress to vote for a new bill which calls for increased safety standards and regulations for facilities using potentially dangerous chemicals.

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 (H.R. 2868), currently under review by the House Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security committees, would require the implementation of safer technologies and alternatives by higher risk facilities and would increase government oversight at those plants.

The bill will replace the 2006 Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act that lacks strong safety protections, restricted the filing of citizen suits and had no provisions for the pursuit of methods that would reduce the impact of possible terrorist attacks. That law also bars the government from requiring the use of safer methods and exempts 2,600 water facilities from regulations.

“Any legislation that Congress considers should replace dangerous toxics with safer alternatives where feasible and set a floor, not a ceiling, for stronger state chemical security laws,” U.S. PIRG Public Health Advocate Elizabeth Hitchcock said in testimony filed with the Homeland Security Committee.

“Enacting such a law would protect millions of citizens who reside and work alongside such plants and facilities with the potential to cause death or serious injury,” she added.

Research by the EPA finds that there are over 2,700 facilities where an accident or a purposeful attack would endanger more than 10,000 people, and 100 water treatment plants that threaten the lives of over 100,000 people.

Click here to read the full text of Hitchcock’s testimony.

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Amen, Sister Jackson. Can I get a hell yeah?

Long quiescent under President George W. Bush, the agency is churning out initiatives and regulations at a pace that pleases its friends in the environmental movement and frightens many in the business community.

In the past eight months, the EPA has proposed eight major new regulations for air pollutants that would strengthen the nation’s clean air laws almost overnight. In contrast, in the first eight months of the Bush administration, the agency proposed one small regulation that affected a limited number of polluters.

“The Obama EPA is issuing more significant rule-makings at a much quicker rate than the EPA did in eight years of the Bush administration,” said Roger Martella, who served as the agency’s general counsel under Mr. Bush.

Read this entire Washington Times article here.

Lisa Jackson discusses how, under the Bush administration, EPA staffers spent half their time just trying to find out if they had jurisdiction when inspectors discovered a violation:

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Now’s your chance to speak your mind.

Are you sick and tired of flood warnings every time it rains? Then tell the Environmental Protection Agency how Charlotte’s persistent flooding problem affects you. You’ve got until Dec. 30 to submit your comments.

What’s the problem with stormwater?

According to the EPA, “Generally, as sites are developed, less ground area is available for rain to soak into, which increases stormwater volume. This stormwater flows across roads, rooftops and other surfaces, picking up pollutants that then flow into waterways.” They also say, “Developed sites, such as subdivisions and commercial shopping centers, can significantly alter the hydrology of land can have a negative impact on receiving waterbodies.”

Translated, that means all of the concrete and asphalt in our city is a problem. Water doesn’t soak into those impervious surfaces, it rolls off — fast — and overburdens our streams and creeks, causing flooding. And, let’s not forget that all of this flooding creates a giant mess, frustration and massive property damage and emergency service bills.

On the flip side, green space, like lawns and gardens, not only soak up much of the water but also the pollutants the water’s picked up, like oil and rubber residue from tires.

Now, you should know, this “public comment” period is really intended for the development industry and local governments … which isn’t very “public” if you ask me. How are they going to know the true impact of stormwater flooding if they don’t hear from the people?

So, speak up. It is your right to do so. Let the EPA know how Charlotte’s frequent floods affect your life and livelihood.

All you have to do is e-mail your comments to OW–Docket@epa.gov. Be sure to put “Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2009–0817″ in the subject line.

From the summer of 2007:

From the summer of 2008:

From the summer of 2009:

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Unfortunately, the big news probably won’t affect Charlotte since Duke Energy didn’t get the funds, Progress Energy did.

Kind of a slap for a city trying to re-package itself as the green energy center of the universe. Though, if you’ll recall, stimulus funding can only go to shovel-ready projects. So, um, Duke? What ya doin’ smart grid wise in the Q.C.? Anything?

President Barack Obama wants to speed the arrival of a “smart grid” to replace the nation’s aging electrical distribution network. To make it happen, he doled out $3.4 billion in federal grants this week, including $200 million to Progress Energy.

The North Carolina-based company will split the grant 50-50 with its affiliate business in Florida, Progress Energy Florida of St. Petersburg.

“This is quite significant money,” said Rob Caldwell, who holds the daunting title of “vice president of efficiency and innovative technology” at Progress Energy. “A grant of $200 million to Progress Energy and $3.4 billion to the industry is huge.”

Progress Energy has already earmarked $320 million of its own resources to smart grid development, so another $200 million from the feds increases the company’s commitment by more than 60 percent.

So, no pressure, Rob, but when are you going to fix everything in Electricity Land? Those who recall the country’s extensive Northeast blackout of 2003 and California’s electricity shortages in 2001 — clear signs of our doddering electrical grid — are all ears.

Here’s the Environmental Protection Agency’s press release:

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson visited Raleigh today to announce a $200 million grant for a smarter, stronger and more efficient electric system in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. The funding, announced at a press conference with Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton and Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, is part of President Barack Obama’s announcement yesterday of the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history – $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grant Awards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will be matched by industry for a total investment worth more than $8 billion.

“A cornerstone of our new foundation for prosperity is the growth of the American clean energy economy,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Investments in innovative Smart Grid technology will create new jobs, lower energy bills for consumers and businesses, promote more efficient and reliable energy delivery, and set the stage for affordable clean energy across the country.”

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030. That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country, and $500 million for North Carolina alone – or $51 in utility savings for every man, woman and child in North Carolina.

“These funds will help us modernize North Carolina’s energy grid – empowering consumers to cut their electric bills and paving the way for a greener, more efficient energy system,” said North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.

The $200 million grant, which Progress Energy will match with $300 million of its own funding, will fund system and equipment upgrades that will make their grid more efficient, saving consumers money in the Carolinas and in Florida. Progress Energy will also use its funding to install 160,000 smart meters and other technology that will cut energy costs for its customers.

“Progress Energy is currently investing in several Smart Grid initiatives to meet our customer’s changing electricity needs throughout the communities that rely on us for reliable power,” said Bill Johnson, Progress Energy chairman, president and CEO. “This grant program has the potential to expand investments necessary to transform the electric grid to give customers greater control of their energy use, enable utilities to harness the potential of renewable energy and electric vehicles and improve power quality and service reliability.”

North Carolina companies, serving five states, will receive $403 million total in recovery act funding for smart grid development, which will be matched by nearly $975 million in private funds for a total investment of $1.3 billion. Duke Energy will receive a similar $200 million grant.

More information on EPA and the recovery act:  http://www.epa.gov/recovery/

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You read right, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from our sister state, is not only planning to vote for climate change legislation, he’s helping to draft it. No shit.

Why? Because the EPA’s Administrator, Lisa Jackson, has proven that she’s serious about moving on with climate change regulation — with or without Congress. They can either get on board, or let her call the shots.

From GreenvilleOnline.com:

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina broke ranks with Republicans on Sunday, announcing that he is working with a Democratic colleague on climate change legislation.

Graham co-authored an op-ed in The New York Times with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts that said they believe they have found a “framework for climate legislation” that can pass Congress, despite conventional wisdom to the contrary.

The senators warned that if Congress doesn’t act, the Obama administration will use the Environmental Protection Agency to impose new regulations that would likely be tougher and lack job protections.

Graham and Kerry called for an “aggressive” reduction of carbon gases, financial incentives for “clean coal,” a streamlined permit process for nuclear power plants and a border tax on items produced in countries that don’t accept environmental standards.

They would minimize the impact on major emitters through a “market-based system” that would give them time to comply with carbon-gas reductions.

The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce threw its support behind Graham, saying his leadership on climate change is critical for success.

Chamber President Frank Knapp Jr. warned that rising sea levels due to global warming could hurt the state’s tourism industry, destroying beaches and barrier islands.

He said that EPA action would result in higher energy costs without the benefits of investments and regulatory changes protecting jobs.

Further reading: Climate Roulette

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An interesting note: The EPA listed “Mountain Island” as the closest town to Duke Energy’s Riverbend Steam Station Coal Plant’s unlined coal ash ponds.

First of all, there is no such town. Second, they said it was six miles down stream — which, of course, is impossible since it doesn’t exist.

But, if anyone was paying attention they’d know that the Charlotte suburb is right across the Rozzelle Ferry Bridge on Highway 16 and that the Catawba River Pumping Station — which sucks millions of gallons of Charlotte-Mecklenburg drinking water every day out of the lake — is just downstream and around the bend from Charlotte’s two high-hazard coal plants.

The draft of the EPA report, which I’ve read cover to cover (it’s a quick read since most of it is redacted), says the wells drilled near the unlined coal ash ponds to monitor ground water are bubbling over with water. That means the water table is very high. That means these unlined ponds are sitting on and in an area where the groundwater is very near the surface. That also means this finding probably isn’t a surprise to the state, the EPA or to Duke Energy.

State data show contaminated groundwater near all 13 N.C. coal-ash ponds owned by Duke Energy and Progress Energy, an environmental group said Tuesday.

Ash, left by coal-burning power plants, is loaded with metals that can be toxic at high levels. It’s often mixed with water and piped into open basins, a practice under scrutiny since a ruptured dike in Tennessee spilled 5 million cubic yards of sludge in December.

The analysis by Boone-based Appalachian Voices shows ash can also seep into groundwater and, the group said, also needs more oversight by regulators. The report detailed 681 instances in the testing of the ponds in which pollutants exceeded state groundwater standards.

Duke and N.C. groundwater officials didn’t challenge the group’s analysis. But they said there’s no evidence that contaminated groundwater is flowing off the large, rural power plant sites into neighborhoods where people could be exposed to it.

“Based on the data we have, we do not believe we have any potential impact on public health or the environment,” said Dave Mitchell, Duke’s managing director for environmental issues.

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“At this point, the jury is still out,” said Ted Bush, the state’s aquifer-protection chief. “We don’t know definitively, and we’re convinced no one knows, whether these groundwater exceedances are violations that are enforceable.”

The reason: State law allows groundwater contamination inside a “compliance boundary” 250 to 500 feet around an ash pond.

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The EPA now says it will propose tightening regulation of coal ash by late this year. Cancer risks from drinking groundwater tainted by arsenic from unlined coal-ash ponds are 900 times higher than the government says is acceptable, the agency has estimated.

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